Christopher Walsh: Dan Murphy’s drama damaging Gunner Government’s credibility

THE Gunner Government is quickly losing the integrity it needs to execute its public campaign promise of restoring trust and accountability

NT Chief Minister Michael Gunner is under fire for his Government’s handling of the Dan Murphy’s controversy. Picture: MICHEL FRANCHI

ANALYSIS

THE Gunner Government is quickly losing the integrity it needs to execute its public campaign promise of restoring trust and accountability.

Extraordinary revelations this week by Dan Murphy’s bosses accusing the Government of misleading the public over when they knew a Dan Murphy’s was trying to enter Darwin are troubling.

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What we know is that one of two things happened. Either the Chief Minister’s chief-of-staff Alf Leonardi met with the liquor giant’s reps in October and didn’t tell Michael Gunner about it, or else he told Mr Gunner about it and the pair claimed it didn’t happen.

Either way, it’s a bad look. If Mr Leonardi did not tell the Chief Minister about the meeting, it backs up claims from Labor caucus and cabinet members that Mr Leonardi is “the real Chief Minister” operating with unchecked power.

Dan Murphy's concept plans for its Darwin store.

Dan Murphy’s reps claim Mr Leonardi flippantly dismissed them in the meeting as operating a “Bunnings for drunks” and nixed the $40 million project before cabinet made a decision. This is where Territorians will rightfully question who is in charge and if Mr Gunner is nothing more than a figurehead carrying out Mr Leonardi’s secret ambitions.

Cabinet is the elected body that makes decisions based on evidence – not an adviser’s feelings.

If the Government was serious about curtailing alcohol-fuelled violence, there are a dozen other steps to take right now that would have more impact than banning one liquor store.

The perception is the Government has misled the public and scuttled a Dan Murphy’s based on the personal prejudices of its chief adviser and a backroom deal with the AHANT. It’s time for Mr Leonardi to go if the Government wants to retain any credibility on trust and reform issues. Mr Gunner’s political capital is also wearing thin as this drags on.